Mullaghmore centre, car park to be demolished

Demolition work is to begin on the uncompleted interpretative centre and car-park at Mullaghmore in the Burren National Park. Eight years after work started on the ill-fated project in November 1992, a spokeswoman for the Office of Public Works said demolition was to on Saturdaytomorrow morning.

It is being carried out to comply with a High Court order secured last July by the Burren Action Group which won a nine-year battle last year to prevent the centre going ahead. Protests are expected at the site from local people who supported the original centre at Mullaghmore. Clare Fianna Fail TD Mr Tony Killeen, who lives in the area, confirmed that he would join any protest at the site. The contract for the works - believed to worth £850,000 - The demolition work is believed to cost about £850,000. It was awarded to Michael Lynch Ltd, the same Ennis firm which was contracted to build the interpretative centre.

Mr Killeen said: "I share the view of local people that this is a disgraceful abuse of public funds." He said the money could be put to better use allocating additional funding to visitor centres in the nearby villages of Kilfenora and Corofin.

The chairman of the Kilnaboy Community Development Association, Mr Pat O'Loughlin, said the demolition was an outrage.

The High Court order, secured after An Bord Pleanala finally threw out plans for a centre at the site last March, requires the Minister for the Arts and Heritage, Ms de Valera, to demolish the centre and car-park and restore it to its original state by May 31st. Work stopped on the original centre in February 1993 after the action group secured a High Court victory. Ms de Valera has said her Department has entered talks with Clare County Council on establishing alternative visitor facilities at the Burren.